TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered last night's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers with dreams of home-field advantage and a Super Bowl berth.
But for the second time in as many years, the Steelers backed up their words and pushed the Buccaneers around at Raymond James Stadium. Pittsburgh scored 17 points in the first 10:36 en route to a 17-7 victory.
"It was just a matter of who is the bigger bully," Steelers running back Jerome Bettis said. "They said they were waiting a full year for this. ... We came out and bullied them and showed them that we're the baddest on the block."
Tampa Bay (11-4), which won the NFC South on Sunday after Cincinnati's victory over New Orleans, can no longer earn home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.
That honor will go to Philadelphia or Green Bay, both 12-3 entering the final week. If Philadelphia defeats the New York Giants on Saturday, the Eagles will have the advantage.
The Buccaneers need a victory at Chicago and a loss by Green Bay against the New York Jets to earn a first-round bye. If Tampa Bay (11-4) loses and San Francisco defeats St. Louis on Monday, the Buccaneers will finish fourth and play host to a wild-card game.
"We're still in the thick of things," Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden said. "We've got to find a way to win a game."
The Steelers' victory clinched the AFC North title and, in turn, hurt the Dolphins' chances of securing a first-round bye. Miami can only earn a first-round bye with a victory Sunday at New England and losses by two of three teams: Pittsburgh, Oakland and Tennessee.
If all three lose, Miami will enter into a strength of schedule tiebreaker for the top seed with Oakland and Tennessee.
Pittsburgh (9-5-1) can earn the top seed with a victory over the Ravens and losses by Oakland and Tennessee.
Pittsburgh dominated the Buccaneers from the beginning.
On the first play, Steelers quarterback Tommy Maddox hit Plaxico Burress, who beat Ronde Barber, for a 41-yard gain down the left sideline. Five plays later, Maddox hit Antwaan Randle El, lined up in the left slot, for an 11-yard touchdown. Randle El beat Dexter Jackson to the left sideline and dove into the end zone.
The Steelers bumped their advantage to 14-0 four minutes into the game on Tampa's second offensive play. Shaun King's pass intended for Keyshawn Johnson was short and late. Chad Scott stepped in front and returned the interception 30 yards.
